Ocon future not in our hands, says Wolff

Mercedes supremo Toto Wolff remains frustrated with Esteban Ocon's current situation within Formula 1, and believes that the driver may have to take a year without a seat, adding that his future 'isn't in Mercedes' hands'.

Ocon is part of Mercedes' driver development programme and has spent the 2018 season with Force India, but with the team's bankruptcy and susbequent takeover, Ocon looks set to be pushed out of his seat, with no obvious option available.

A faint hope remains that Williams may pick him up for the 2019 campaign, but it is looking increasingly unlikely that the Frenchman will be on the grid in Melbourne next March.

Wolff has been vocal in his dismay at the situation, believing Ocon to be more than capable of picking up a drive for next year, but he was forced to admit that the 22-year-old's predicament is not one easily solved, and that he may have to accept a year of development from the sidelines.

He said: "I think it’s kind of settled into a situation that we might need to find the right seat for him in 2020, and have a gap year and integrate him a lot in our team and make him contribute to the team’s performance.

"He and us have kind of got our head around it, even though it’s not perfect. Unless a last-minute opportunity opens up at Williams, but it’s not in our hands it’s for Claire [Williams] and the team to decide."

Lance Stroll's father, Lawrence, has taken the reigns at Force India and has used his significant financial clout to secure his son a drive at the revamped Force India team next season, leaving Ocon out in the cold as a result.